White enters SBOE controversy

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White entered the State Board of Education controversy Tuesday, saying experts should review some 100 changes made by the GOP majority.

History professors and social science teachers proposed new curriculum standards for Texas public schools. The board changes, many of them controversial, came from on overly political process, White says.

Bill White

“Individual school board members are no doubt sincere in their beliefs, and some of the changes can be debated by reasonable people. But, under the leadership of another extreme Rick Perry appointee, the amendment process injected politics into our school books and classrooms,” said Bill White. “That is a step in the wrong direction, requiring leadership from our governor.”

“Rick Perry must ask his appointed chair to send the curriculum standards back to review teams before final adoption in May,” White said.

In response, Perry campaign spokeswoman Catherine Frazier said:

“It is clear that Bill White has no understanding of this process as SBOE

members are independently elected by the people of Texas. The curriculum

standards process is the same as it has been in the past, and Gov. Perry

is confident that it is effective and adequate.”

More from the White press release:

State Board of Education members also voted to remove the concept of “justice” from a list of characteristics for good citizenship for grades one through three and the word “capitalism,” a well-known economic concept.

The SBOE also voted to remove Thomas Jefferson from a social studies standard about historical figures who inspired political change in the late 18th century. Jefferson remains in U.S. history standards.

Governor Perry’s current appointee as Chair, Gail Lowe, wanted Supreme Court Justice and civil rights pioneer Thurgood Marshall removed from a section on citizenship because he is “not particularly known for [his] citizenship.”

Perry’s previous appointed chair of the SBOE, Don McLeroy, engaged in such extreme antics that the Texas Senate refused to confirm him the second time Perry appointed him in 2009.

McLeroy, who said education is, “too important not to be politicized,” was recently defeated by Republican primary voters.

“Voters have spoken and simply want leaders who will put our children’s preparation for college and careers ahead of any political agenda,” White said